In Germany, there have been continuing trials and searches of suppliers of luxury cars to Russia. Just the other day, one businessman was sentenced to five years for selling cars to Russia as part of a new investigation in Hamburg.
On behalf of the Hanover prosecutor’s office, the Hamburg customs investigation department is investigating a dealer who is suspected of exporting cars worth 3.4 million euros from a well-known manufacturer to Russia in violation of current sanctions regulations (cars worth over 50,000 are prohibited from being sold in Russia). The dealer’s home and office were searched on July 15, and several thousand euros were seized from a mattress.
According to EU Regulation No. 833/2014, it is prohibited to sell, supply, transfer or export goods regulated by this regulation directly or indirectly to individuals or legal entities, organizations or bodies in Russia or for use in Russia, unless otherwise provided in the annex to the regulation. The ban applies to luxury goods worth more than €300 per unit. In addition, certain cars are subject to an overall export ban.
Anyone who exports goods to countries subject to EU sanctions as part of a group or for commercial purposes should expect a sentence of two to five years’ imprisonment.
